Three subspecies of chestnut-backed chickadee inhabit the Bay Area. But the populations are merging.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Chestnut-Backed Chickadees
March 24, 2020 •
John Muir Laws
Naturalist and illustrator John Muir Laws is the author of the Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada and Sierra Birds: A Hiker's Guide. Learn more and find class schedules at johnmuirlaws.com.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Gravitational Wasting
January 6, 2020 •
See evidence of “gravitational wasting” erosion on Bay Area hillsides.
Enjoy Mosquito-Watching All Year Round
September 16, 2019 •
How Water Striders Bend Light
June 23, 2019 •
How a Plant and an Ant Help Each Other to Survive
March 25, 2019 •
Vetch and Argentine ants cooperate, exchanging food for protection.
Birds of Different Feathers Flock Together in Winter
December 28, 2018 •
A quiet winter woodland can suddenly explode with bird life. Jack Laws explains how to tell some of the common species apart.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Freshwater Jellyfish Invade California Lakes and Ponds
October 1, 2018 •
Native to China, Craspedacusta sowerbii is found in freshwater lakes and ponds on every continent.
Naturalist’s Notebook: How An Ant Lion Pit Works
June 26, 2018 •
Ant lions trap their prey in steep pits.
Naturalist’s Notebook: How to Tell Northern California Hawks Apart
March 30, 2018 •
Watching distant raptors in dim light? Ignore color and look at values.
Naturalist’s Notebook: Woodrats Fumigate Their Nests With Bay Leaves to Control Fleas
January 2, 2018 •
Life is so surprisingly webbed and interconnected.